'Real Housewives of New York' breakup has royal roots

The heretofore unnamed Ethiopian woman who got between "Real Housewives of New York City" star Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and her husband has been identified -- and she's royalty.

The woman's name is Princess Kemeria Abajobir Abajifar, according to the web site EthioPlanet. She's the granddaughter of the last ruler of the Gibe Kingdom of Jimmaa, which is located in present-day Ethiopia.

News that de Lesseps and her husband, Count Alexandre de Lesseps, had split up surfaced a couple of weeks ago. Accounts of the breakup had only referred to Abajifar as an Ethiopian woman whom the count had become involved with, but EthioPlanet says both she and the count wanted her identified by name.

Luanne de Lesseps, 43, has said she was "blindsided" by the news that her husband was involved with another woman, which she says the count confirmed via e-mail.

"The Real Housewives of New York City" wrapped its second season earlier this week. De Lesseps has a book, "Class with the Countess," due to hit shelves later this month.